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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trevis, Travis, Travers, v. Also: trevise, -e(i)s, traves, -ais, -ish, trawers. [ME and e.m.E. traverse(n (a1325), travers (c1440), trav(a)ys (c1480), traues(se (15th c.), travis (1606), travish (1616), F. traverser, late pop. L. trāversāre.]

1. intr. and tr. To move in a crosswise direction, to cut across.intr. 1375 Barb. xvii 532.
Swa lang thai raid destroyand sua As thai trawersyt [C. trauersit] to & fra 1375 Barb. xix 355.
The lord Dowglas … trawersyt all wayis wp agayn Thaim ner his bataillis for to trayn ?1438 Alex. i 2699.
Daucline, that was wicht in weir, Trauissit [F. vint au travers] challange for to maik, And with the staluart spere him straiktr. ?1438 Alex. i 3182.
He [sc. Gaudifeir] Trauersit his [sc. Emynedoun's] hors as michty man; He turnit nocht abasitly, Bot with speir straucht … He draue agane Emynedoun

b. intr. Of a ship: To tack, also ? to move across, to traverse, more generally. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 318.
[Your ships in this Firth,] na wayes constrenit be tempest of weddir, bot rather travessing contrair the wind a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 53.
Steir be the compas … Syne treveis still and lay abowt a1578 Pitsc. I 188/33.
Pullit wpe thair saillis and trevissit [1728 travished] wpe and doune the firth a1578 Pitsc. I 213/7.
Trevessing

c. tr. To go across (a country). 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. Ded.
In traversing [pr. rauersing] these forraine territories [etc.]

d. intr. To travel betuix two places. 1616 Haddington Corr. 131.
I will be travisand betuix this and London

e. ? fig. To move, make a move in (a matter), pursue one's affairs. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 296.
[He had in charge nothing but suing the Queen's licence in my private affairs in Scotland … I humbly pray you to set him at liberty and that it may please your Majesty to licence me to] travais [in my affairs there]

2. tr. To go through, pierce (a thing). 1513 Doug. x viii 98.
The schaft … throw the bordour of the scheild swa persyt Quhill fynaly in sum deill it traversyt And hurt … Turnus

3. fig. a. To act against, go counter to (a person). b. To be contrary or run counter to (a thing).a. 1456 Hay II 91/20.
Na till hald lang his ire na his evill will gyf he trevise at his subjectisb. a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 70.
Off the cedullis the suth quhen I had sene, On trewth, me thocht thai trevist in thair tone